JP/5/D03

Court frees Medan terror suspect

Apriadi Gunawan Medan

A district court here acquitted on Wednesday a terror suspect of all charges of involvement in the 2000 church bombings on Christmas Eve in Medan, North Sumatra.

The defendant, Awaluddin Sitorus alias Abu Yassar, 34, was not proven to have played a role in the terror attacks, the Medan District Court said.

Prosecutors had recommended 10 years imprisonment for Awaluddin, charging him with violating Article 1 (1) of Emergency Law No. 12/1951.

However, the panel of judges said there was insufficient evidence found against the defendant after at least 19 witnesses, presented by the prosecutors, testified before the court.

None of the witnesses admitted to having seen the suspect at the Padang Bulan Protestant church on May 28, 2000 at the time of the bombing, in which 36 people were injured, they added. No fatalities were reported.

Toni Togar, another defendant in the same case who was presented as a key witness, told a previous trial that Awaluddin was not in Medan but on the island of Batam when the blast took place.

Judge Binsar Gultom said the link between Awaluddin and the church attacks was weak, as the prosecutors failed to present four other key witnesses also accused of involvement in the blast.

They were the alleged Jamaah Islamiyah (JI) leader Hambali, currently being held by the United States, Faiz Bin Abubakar Bafana, being detained in Malaysia, convicted Bali bomber Imam Samudra and his accomplice Nasrullah who is still at large.

"The prosecutors should have been able to present the key witnesses in the trial because Awaluddin admitted he once met with them in Medan," Binsar said.

He said that Awaluddin also confessed to have voluntarily helped Hambali and Imam Samudra find a rented house in Medan,

However, Binsar added, Awaluddin along with Toni and Nasrullah had reportedly been ordered by the late Jabil Akim to bomb three churches in Medan, including the GKPI Padang Bulan. The identity of Jabil was not clear.

Awaluddin also admitted to having received Rp 4 million from Faiz Bin Abubakar Bafana for transportation to gather their accomplices for a meeting at Ibunda Hotel to discuss the riots in Maluku province. The forum was attended by Hambali and Samudra.

Responding to the court verdict in favor of the defendant, prosecutor Nilma Lubis said his office would appeal to a higher court.